New Tank Ideas

Hallo all, well i am starting a 24 gal nano cube in july, as some might know its a beta tank with dual 70w mhs and some t-5s and such...anyway i was thinking of buying this rock http://www.reefermadness.us/Buna_Branch.htm i know its 65 lbs but i can put some...um...well somewhere if i dont use it...anyway i was thinking of curing it in the tanks since i will be testing it for bugs and wont put anything in it besides hermits or somthing...if i do this what should i expect to encounter...i know there is always the threat of mantis...should i cure outside the tank or in it? will that kill everything on the tank...wow i feel like a noob...but its just been so long...lol well thanks doesnt that rock look nice

 

Hitchhikers, including mantis shrimp, are always a possibility, but not always a bad thing as there are quite a few beneficial detrivores and algeavores that may come with the live rock. Various snails and bristle worms are two very beneficial critters. Hitchiking crabs can be as much or more bothersome than mantis.

I suggest you cure it out of the tank as the die off, detritous will not be introduced into the tank. Before adding to the display tank, blow all of the detritous off the rock with a powerhead and then you can judiciously pour soda water over the rock to flush any crabs/shrimp. Be prepared to save any snails or bristle worms that get bubbled out.

Good luck!

 

but wont i lose any good algae or anything that needs light during the curing process?

 

No, unless you srcub the rock with a wire brush you won't have substantial algea loss. Algeas are very resilient, especially coraline.